|
 |
||||||||||
By J. MATTHEW COBB AIDS IS CONSIDERED TO BE one of the greatest catastrophes and epidemics globally and its effects have stretched as far and wide in effecting over 36.1 million human beings and in each year that passes over 5.5 million will be newly diagnosed with having HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. And usually when one thinks of the diabolical devastations of AIDS upon cultures and countries, images of Africa begin to slip into our minds. But the disease is no longer a stranger to America. It has now been considered to be an epidemic in the African American community and it is spreading fast. The highly controversial ABC one-hour documentary "Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" revealed startling revelations on how serious this epidemic has become in Black America. Reporter Terry Morgan decided to finish the work of the late Peter Jennings on his discovery of the serious effects AIDS has had on the African-American community. Since the airing of the documentary, word leaked out on how serious it was. For AIDS to be labeled a "black disease" by Phill Wilson, executive director of the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles, this sent off big warnings, serious alerts and immediate attention to how serious this problem has become. Sadly, black Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population but account for over 50 percent of all new cases of HIV. This is just reported cases. What about the growing number of unreported cases from those that are uneducated on the existence of HIV-testing and are too afraid to be tested for the disease? 50 percent of new cases in America of HIV are African-Americans. That infection rate is eight times the rate of whites. Let the statistics preach for awhile.
Because homosexuality and bisexuality is still considered a taboo and carries a strong stigma in African-American communities, particularly amongst those whom are involved in faith and religious communities, the damaging repercussions of AIDS sends out another important problem which is creating disastrous effects. African-American men are most likely to conceal their sexual orientation and choose to live a life of discretion; most popularly called the "down-low". Those individuals have sex with men, and then also have sex with women without revealing their activities of sleeping with the same sex. According to Debra Fraser-Howze, CEO of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, she believes there are "few communities as conservative as the African-American community, especially on the subject of sex, but when it comes to homosexuality, it's a real problem". The problem is so severe that even though each portion and sect within the deadly epidemic of AIDS has contributed to its factors, that African-American men whom practice these "down-low" patterns are multiplying to the shame and the sickness of this disease. Let the stats preach on a little while longer.
Within the documentary, Moran reported on the role of the church and its involvements in crusading against AIDS. Because the church is one of the key centers of social justice and moral conduct in black America, it is important to highlight the current positions the churches of today have on AIDS. Rev. Calvin Butts, III., pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, was interviewed in the ABC report and exposed another "down-low" situation. In his words: "Black churches have been silent on AIDS". Now the concern shifts. What was considered a white man's disease is now labeled by many critics and historians as being a black disease. And because of the previous ideals and perceptions of AIDS being a white man's disease still lingers in the African-American community, it seems as if there is little to no preparation being done on handling this epidemic. And because the black church, whom was extremely proactive in American history on issues of civil rights, women's rights and political freedom, refuses to ignore the alarming issue of AIDS, many questions begin to arise. Why are they neglecting this issue? Why aren't they involved like they should be with AIDS and HIV outreaches and contributing monies to help stop this disease? Where are the education programs? What is up with the lack of leaders that should be preaching on ending this madness? Even Bishop T.D. Jakes was interviewed in the ABC documentary. His excuse on the disease was that African Americans face many more obstacles, problems and diseases and he feels it's because of these things that AIDS has to sit "on the back of the bus". Political and civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson was also interviewed and was asked about his lack of involvement in dealing with AIDS in America. While he has campaigned heavily on the epidemic of AIDS in African, he had no reasons as to why he forgot about the crisis at home in America. The Rev. Eugene Rivers of Boston stated these words in the report: "I see the black church being challenged as never before. There are going to have to be some tough conversations within the black church, because the black church is the only thing that black people have left. And too many young people are dying because Black leaders have failed their children." Sadly, those words remain true. There is a lack of Black leaders and there is a lack of vocal integrity within the African-American community. While preachers are enjoying their popularity of the day with their glossy teleevangelism, big-time sermons on financial gain and prosperity and are benefiting off of the mega-numbers that flood their sanctuaries week after week, the pulpit refuses to speak out against the warring epidemic of AIDS. What makes things even more harder to explain is that there are alarming numbers of reported and unreported cases of AIDS and HIV affecting those within the gospel music industry. "I think over the next couple of years some of the major players in gospel will be hit with this, " said Rev. Christopher Squires of the Rev. Ernest Davis Jr.'s Wilmington-Chester Mass Choir. And it is because of this notion that we should do something about it, before it gets worse. OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES TO LOOK INTO:
|
Almost 70 percent of all newly diagnosed HIV-positive women in the U.S. are black women.
